Flush valve tripping device



0a. 22, 1968 'H. w. HUDSON 3,406,408

FLUSH VALVE TRIPPING DEVICE Filed June 10, 1966 INVENTOR.

flzw y Z1 Hudson ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,406,408 FLUSH VALVE TRIPPING DEVICE Harry W. Hudson, Littleton, Colo., assignor to Twentieth Century Products Corp., Englewood, Colo. Filed June 10, 1966, Ser. No. 556,602 9 Claims. (Cl. 4-67) This invention relates to a new and improved flush valve tripping device adapted to be secured to a wall of a water closet and operable to actuate a flush valve.

Prior art flush valve tripping devices are generally of metallic construction and operable in only one direction to trip the flush valve. The relatively movable engaging metallic parts thereof tend to scrap and rattle and produce undesirable noises, while operation in only one direction is sometimes awkward and may cause portions of the valve handle to break if too great a force is applied in the inoperative direction. Moreover, installation of known flush valve tripping devices is oftentimes inconvenient and clumsy due to the interposition of rigid rods, levers or the like connecting between the flush valve and the valve tripping device and the necessity to initially position the valve handle relative to the position of working parts of the tripping device and the associated connecting levers, etc.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved flush valve tripping device which is substantially silent in operation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a flush valve tripping device operable in either direction to trip the flush valve in a water closet.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a flush valve tripping device which is both easily installed in the wall of a water closet and easily operably connected with a flush valve during its installation.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a flush valve tripping device having the foregoing characteristics which is easily fabricated and assembled and inexpensively produced.

In one aspect thereof, the flush valve tripping device of the present invention is characterized by a bushing adapted for insertion through an opening in the wall of a water closet together with means securing the bushing in the opening, the bushing having a stop projectingfrom the interior end thereof, a cylindrical stem rotatably received within the bushing with the ends thereof projecting beyond opposite ends of the bushing, means carried by the stem adjacent the interior end thereof and abutting the interior end of the bushing to prevent outward axial displacement of said stem, a radially projecting stop carried by the stem for engagement with said first mentioned stop upon rotation of the stem in either direction, a crank arm extending generally normal to the axis of rotation of the stem and having one end thereof carried by the interior end of the stem means carried by the extreme end of the crank arm for connecting the crank arm with a flush valve, and a handle secured to the exterior end of the stem and abutting the bushing to prevent inward axial displacement of the stem whereby rotation of the handle in either direction rotates the crank arm between stop engaging positions to thereby actuate a connected flush valve.

Various other novel features of construction and advantages inherent in the flush valve tripping device of the present invention are pointed out in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawing and following description of a typical embodiment thereof.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a Water closet showing a flush valve tripping device of the present invention installed thereon;

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FIG. 2 is af fragmentary vertical section of the flush valve tripping device taken about on line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section thereof taken about on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

Referring now in particular to the illustrative embodiment shown in the drawing there is shown in FIG. 1 a water closet generally designated 10 having a front wall 11 adapted to receive the flush valve tripping device of the present invention through an opening 12 (FIG. 2). Such construction includes a bushing generally designated 13 which comprises inner and outer liners 14 and 15, respectively. Outer liner 15 is received within opening 12 and has a radially enlarged portion 16 at one end thereof adapted to abut the outside face of wall 11. The inner end of liner 15 is externally threaded to receive a nut 17 for releasably clamping bushing 13 to wall 11. Inner liner 14 comprises a sleeve secured within liner 15 by glue or the like and has an enlarged exterior end portion 18 adapted to seat against the exterior end of liner 15. Outer liner 15 can be of the usual metal construction while inner liner 14 is a plastic material for purposes as will appear presently.

A stem, generally designated 19, is rotatably received within bushing 13 and comprises an elongated cylindrical plastic sleeve 20 with a radially enlarged portion 21 closing the interior end thereof and adapted to seat against the interior end of inner liner 14 to preclude outward axial displacement of stem 19. A projection 22 extends inwardly from enlarged portion 21 and is secured in an opening in one end of a crank arm 23 which depends from stem 19 normal to the axis of rotation thereof. Crank arm 23 has an inwardly projecting pintle 26 secured adjacent the extreme end thereof for pivotally supporting a depending free floating pivot link 28. Link 28 has three spaced openings 29 adjacent its free end which receive an end of a line 30 in a manner securing the latter thereto as shown in FIG. 2. The other end of line 30 is secured to a flush valve, not shown.

Stem 19 further includes a metal cylindrical plug 24 having a reduced end portion secured within sleeve 20 and an opposite exterior end portion tapered and provided with an axially threaded opening 25. The tapered end portion is flattened on opposite sides to provide circumferentially spaced sharp tapered edges for engagement with a handle generally designated 32 in a manner described hereinafter.

Handle 32 comprises inner and outer caps 33 and 34 respectively with outer cap 34 preferably being formed of plastic and having a recess 35 in the interior side thereof for receiving inner cap 33. The cylindrical interior wall of recess 35 tapers slightly inwardly and is fluted at 36 to engage a correspondingly fluted outer wall 37 of inner cap 33, the latter being formed of metal. Thus, when assembled, with end 38 of inner cap 33 abutting intermediate body portion 39 of outer cap 34, the fluted engagement prevents relative rotation between the caps, and the outer cap substantially encloses the inner cap.

A radially reduced cylindrical axial sleeve extension 40 projects inwardly from end wall 38 of inner cap 33 to provide a recess having approximately conical, tapered fluted interior wallportions 41 for receiving the tapered end of plug 24 and forming a splined connection therewith. A screw 42 extends through body portion 39 and end wall 38 and threads into opening 25 in stem 19. Tightening down of screw 42 causes the sharp edges of the tapered end of stem 19 to engage fluted wall portions 41 of inner cap 33 to thereby preclude relative rotation therebetween. When thus assembled, the end of axial extension 40 bears against portion 18'of bushing 13 to prevent inward axial displacement of stem 19 relative to bushing 13. Handle 32 and stem 19, however, are free to rotate relative to bushing 13 with opposite ends of inner liner 14 providing respective bearing surfaces for axial extension 40 and radially enlarged portion 21.

A circular decorative end cover 43 having inwardly extending, resilient fingers 43' snap fits in a recess 44 disposed in the outer face of outer cap 34. The exterior wall portions of outer cap 34 are provided with circumferentially spaced, axially extending grooves 45 which provide external gripping surfaces.

' A radially projecting stop 46 is carried by enlarged portion 21,of stem 19 and, upon rotation of stem 19 in either direction, engages a stop 47 which projects axially inwardly from the upper interior end of outer liner 15. Stop 46 is alined with crank arm 23 and engages stop 47 when stem 19 is rotated in either direction from the rest position shown in FIG. 2. to preclude floating link 28 from attaining an over-center position. v

Inassernbling the various parts for use in a water closet, bushing 13 is simply inserted through opening 12 in wall 11 and secured thereat by nut 17. Stem 19 is then inserted from the interior side of Wall 11 through bushing 13 and screw 42 is threaded into the end of stem 19 to secure handle 32 to stem 19, thereby securing the stem and handle assembly against axial displacement while permitting rotation thereof relative to bushing 13. Line 30 is connected between floating link 28 and a flush valve, not shown, and end cover 43 is snapped in place. Thus, installation of the flush valve handle is accomplished easily and in a minimum of time.

In use, rotation of outer cap 34 in either direction causes rotation of stem 19 through the fluted connection between the inner and outer caps and the splined connection between the stem and axial extension 40. Crank arm 23 is thereby caused to rotate correspondingly from its initial vertically alined position until stop 46 engages stop 47. Floating link 28 moves laterally and upwardly in response thereto and causes line 30 to open the flush valve.

It is a feature of the present invention that both inner liner 14 and sleeve 20 are plastic and preferably formed of a plastic which is substantially friction free and selflubricating, such as nylon or Teflon. Such plastic insulates the metallic outer liner 15 from the metallic plug 24 to provide silent operation during rotation of the latter. Also, the plastic, radially enlarged portion 18 likewise insulates metal axial extension 40 from metal liner 15 and provides a smooth bearing surface against which handle 32 and plug 24 rotate. Thus, the parts of the present invention are arranged to avoid metal to metal contact with the engaging surfaces of the relatively rotatable parts thereof providing either a plastic to plastic or metal to plastic bearing contact. This insures smooth and noiseless operation of the flush valve tripping device while simultaneously reducing the costs of the parts thereof.

Having thus described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that such description and illustration is by way of example only and that such modifications and changes as may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A flush valve tripping device adapted to trip a flush valve in a water closet comprising a bushing adapted for insertion through an opening in the wall of a water closet together with means securing said bushing in the opening, said bushing having a stop projecting from the interior end thereof, a cylindrical stem rotatably received within said bushing with the ends thereof projecting beyond opposite ends of said bushing, means carried by said stem adjacent the interior end thereof and abutting said interior end of said bushing to prevent outward axial displacement of said stem, a radially projecting stop carried by said stem for engagement with said first mentioned stop upon rotation of said stem in either direction, a crank arm extending generally normal to the axis of rotation of said stem and having one end thereof carried by the interior end of said ste'm, means carried by the extreme end of said crank arm for connecting said crank arm with a flush valve, and a handle secured to the exterior end of said stem and abutting s'aid bushing to prevent inward axial displacement of said stem whereby rotation of said handle in either direction rotates said crank arm between stop engaging positions to thereby actuate a connected flush valve.

2. A flush valve tripping device according to claim 1 wherein said first mentioned stop projects axially inwardly from said bushing and said radial stop projects from said stem on the side thereof opposite said first mentioned stop when in rest position whereby, upon rotation of said handle in either direction, said radial stop rotates a substantially equal distance to engage said first mentioned stop. I

3. A flush valve tripping device according to claim 1 including a free floating link having one end thereof pivotally connected to said crank arm with the opposite end thereof adapted for operable connection with a flush valve.

4. A flush valve tripping device according to claim 3 wherein said first mentioned stop extends axially inwardly from an upper portion of said bushing and said radially projecting stop is radially alined with said crank arm and on the side of said stem opposite said first mentioned stop when said handle is in rest position whereby, upon rotation of said handle in either direction, said radial stop rotates a substantially equal distance to engage said first mentioned stop with said floating link stopping short of an overcenter position.

5. A flush valve tripping device according to claim 1 wherein said bushing comprises outer and inner liners with the exterior end of said inner liner projecting axially outwardly beyond said outer liner and abutting said handle.

6. A flush valve tripping device according to claim 5 wherein said abutting means abuts the interior end of said inner liner, said inner liner being plastic with said interior end thereof and said axial projection providing respective plastic bearing surfaces for said stem and said handle.

7. A flush valve tripping device according to claim 1 wherein said handle comprises inner and outer caps, and means engaging between said caps preventing relative rotation therebetween, said outer cap engaging about the inner cap and substantially enclosing the same.

8. A flush valve tripping device according to claim 7 wherein said inner cap is substantially cylindrical and engages in a complementary recess in the inner end of said outer cap, said latter means including complementary fluted portions on the substantially cylindrical outer surface of the inner cap and the cylindrical interior of said recess, and a screw passing axially through said caps and engaging said stem in axial alinement therewith.

9. A flush valve tripping device according to claim 1 wherein said bushing comprises outer and inner liners with the exterior end of said inner liner projecting axially outwardly beyond said outer liner and abutting said handle, said abutting means abutting the interior end of said inner liner, said inner liner being plastic with said interior end thereof and said axial projecting providing respective plastic bearing surfaces for said stem and said handle, a free floating link having one end thereof pivotally connected to said crank arm with the opposite end thereof having a line adapted for connection with a flush valve, and wherein said first mentioned stop extends axially inwardly from an upper portion of said outer liner and said radially projecting stop is radially alined with said crank arm and on the side of said stem opposite said first mentioned stop when said handle is in rest position whereby, upon rotation of said handle in either direction, said radial stop rotates a substantially equal distance to engage said first mentioned stop with said floating link and line stopping short of an overcenter position, said handle comprising an inner metallic cap and an outer plastic cap, said inner cap being substan tially cylindrical and having fluted portions on its outer surface, said outer cap engaging about and receiving said inner cap in a complementary recess in the inner end of the outer cap with said recess having fluted portions engaging the fluted portions of said inner cap and preventing relative rotation between said caps, a hub on said inner cap, a screw passing axially through said outer cap and said hub of said inner cap and engaging said stem in axial alinement therewith for maintaining said hub in abutting relation against said outer end of said inner liner, and a decorative cover engaging in snap-fit relation in the outer face of said outer cap.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,061,705 5/1913 Tilden 4-67 1,318,599 10/1919 Saal 467 1,504,586 8/1924 Thompson 4-67 1,771,247 7/1930 Clernmons 4-67 1,811,878 6/1931 Curtin 4-67 2,609,546 9/1952 Gulick 4-67 2,963,710 12/1960 Carter 4-67 3,091,775 6/ 1963 Himrnelrick 4-67 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

H. K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FLUSH VALVE TRIPPING DEVICE ADAPTED TO TRIP A FLUSH VALVE IN A WATER CLOSET COMPRISING A BUSHING ADAPTED FOR INSERTION THROUGH AN OPENING IN THE WALL OF A WATER CLOSET TOGETHER WITH MEANS SECURING SAID BUSHING IN THE OPEINING, SAID BUSHING HAVING A STOP PROJECTING FROM THE INTERIOR END THEREOF, A CYLINDRICAL STEM ROTATABLY RECEIVED WITHIN SAID BUSHING WITH THE ENDS THEREOF PROJECTING BEYOND OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID BUSHING, MEANS CARRIED BY SAID STEM ADJACENT THE INTERIOR END THEREOF AND ABUTTING SAID INTERIOR END OF SAID BUSHING TO PREVENT OUTWARD AXIAL DISPLACEMENT OF SAID STEM, A RADIALLY PROJECTING STOP CARRIED BY SAID STEM FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FIRST MENTIONED 